Nedžad Grabus Elected New Reis-ul-Ulema of Bosnia's Islamic Community
The Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina has elected Prof. Dr. Nedžad Grabus as its new reis-ul-ulema, succeeding Husein Kavazović after a secret ballot in Sarajevo. Grabus, a scholar and former mufti of Ljubljana, will lead until 2033.
Prof. Dr. Nedžad Grabus has been elected the new reis-ul-ulema of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, succeeding Husein Kavazović, who has led the community since 2012. The election took place on 10 October at a session of the Electoral Body held at the Gazi Husrev-beg Library in Sarajevo, following a secret ballot among the delegates.
Grabus prevailed over two other candidates: Hafiz Prof. Dr. Mensur Malkić, director of the Religious Affairs Administration of the Rijaset, and Dr. Salem Dedović, mufti of Mostar. The new mandate extends until 2033, giving the incoming leader a long horizon to shape the community's direction.
Born in Travnik in 1968, Grabus completed the Gazi Husrev-beg Madrasa in 1987 and went on to graduate from the Faculty of Islamic Studies in Sarajevo in 1994, earning a master's degree in 2001 and a doctorate in 2008. His academic work focuses on aqidah, or Islamic creed. He has served in the Religious-Educational Service of the Rijaset, taught at the Faculty of Islamic Studies, and edited religious programming on radio. He has published scholarly and professional papers and translated works on Islamic thought.
From 2006 to 2021, Grabus was mufti of Ljubljana and president of the Meshihat of the Islamic Community in Slovenia. He was later appointed mufti of Sarajevo. For his contributions in Slovenia, he was awarded the Silver Order of Merit of the Republic of Slovenia.
During his campaign, Grabus emphasised the institutional autonomy and unity of the Islamic Community. Among his priorities, he listed improving the material and social position of imams, developing waqf properties, education, and greater participation of young people, women, and the diaspora in the life of the community. In an interview ahead of the election, he spoke of the need for young people and female members to take part in designing educational programmes and in the work of the community's bodies.
He also pointed to the challenges of the digital age: the influence of artificial intelligence on education and religious information, the need for a clearer online presence, and the protection of members' personal data. He linked the education of imams, muallims, and professors to their responsibility to remain moral role models in a changing society.
In discussions with members from electoral districts in Western Europe, Grabus highlighted the preservation of the Bosnian language, work with young people, and connecting new generations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. He spoke of the need for Bosniaks to be integrated and responsible citizens of the societies in which they live, while preserving their faith, culture, and ties to their homeland. For imams in the diaspora, he proposed continuous professional development covering languages, knowledge of educational systems, modern communication, and youth work.
These programme themes directly affect the daily life of local communities: the status of imams, access to religious education, and opportunities for younger generations to participate more actively in the community's work. The new reis-ul-ulema now faces the task of turning these commitments into concrete action together with the community's bodies and institutions.
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